The Roefs family and the Van Dinther family pose with a medic and Cpl. Vincent P. “Vinnie” Utz of Hq., 506th PIR, who is sitting in the foreground.

Vinnie Utz is one of many larger than life characters within the ranks of the 101st. Before the war, he was captain of the football team of Rutgers University, making a lasting impression on all who knew him.

Because of his German background and language skills, Sink transferred him to the s-2 section. Prior to the Normandy jump, Sink had Utz dressed up in a German uniform and visit all the companies to show what a German soldier looked like and probably sounded like as well.
The farm of the Roefs family was located in the middle of the drop zone in Holland in 1944. Immediately after the drop until September 20, 1944, their stables were used by the surgeons of the 326th Medical Company as a First Aid Station for the jump injured paratroopers.

Later that year while fighting in the Battle of Bastogne, Utz lost his left arm.

Comes A Soldier’s Whisper remembering history and our veterans one day at a time…

For videos, interviews, shared stories & book purchase visit: comesasoldierswhisper.com/ DONATIONS from book profits are made to Operation First Response www.operationfirstresponse.org giving aide to today’s veterans transitioning from the military back to civilian life.

Photo/Text Source: Orange is the Color of the Day
www.facebook.com/ComesASoldiersWhisper
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @ twitter.com/Jennylas